Grace Church Visitor
A Monthly Magazine Devoted to the Interest of Grace Reformed Church
FORT WAYNE INDIANA
VOL. XXVI
OCTOBER, 1915
No. 12
ANNOUNCEMENTS.
Communion services Sabbath morn-
ing, Oct. 24. Baptism and reception of
members.
Young People's Revival services dur-
ing the week preceding the communion
services, beginning on Tuesday evening.
Mrg£ Clark will entertain the Wo-
DVarf's Missionary society at her home,
1001 Columbia Ave., Thursday after-
noon, Oct. 21.
Circle No. 4 of the Woman's Aid so-
ciety will serve supper in the lecture
rooms of the church Thursday evening,
.Oct. 28, from 5 to 8 o'clock.
Tlte Allen County Sunday School
conv. ition will meet in Grace Church
Thar day, Nov. 4th. Sessions in the
morning, afternoon and evening.
A new feature of interest in our Sab-
bath evening services * 1 be the ser-
vice of song,- and the r ceial music by
the choir. Come and help us sing and
give your presence and inspiration at
this service.
It was a disappointment to many of
our people that the weather was so un-
favorable on our Rally and Educational
Day. Many were detained from the ser-
vices, both morning and evening. Con-
sidering the weather the attendance was
good. We are sure that those who came
out to the services were well repaid for
their coming. Dr. Miller gave us splen-
did addresses and sermons. It was a
great privilege to have him with us. We
were glad that the people could meet
him. The program we have followed
for the past several years upon Rally
Day seems to meet the hearty endorse-
ment of the people. While we make it
a day for the rallying of the people
and the forces of the church, we aim to
make it also a day for the educating of
the people. We trust we may have
great results from our recent Rally Day.
The consistory has let the contract
for a new furnace for the Sunday
School room. The old furnace has lit-
erally gone to pieces aneftfshould have
been taken out last year. The new fur-
nace installed will cost $125, with guar-
antee to give good service. The con-
sistory spent some time in examining
furnaces before the purchase was made,
and we believe that the furnace select-
ed will give satisfaction. We'll have it
installed by Oetol -r 17th.
Thursday evening, Oct. • 28, the
women of the church will serve supper
in the lecture rooms. It hts been some
time since the members of Grace
Church had the privilege of eaiing their
suppers together at the church. We
always look forward to these occasions
with a great deal of pleasure because of
the social feature of the gathering.
These suppers give an opportunity for
the members of the church and their
friends to get acquainted and have a
social evening together. We should
have these social gatherings at the
church more frequently. It is not the
money-making feature of the occasion
that is of the greatest importance to
the church. It is the family gathering,
the home-coming of the members of the
church, the social feature of the even-
ing, that we are most concerned about.
Acquaintanceship and sociability create
mutual sympathy and interest. Widely
scattered over the city as our people
are, they are strangers to each other,
and the only way of becoming acquaint-
ed with each other is by house to house
visitation, at the church services, and
through the social gatherings at the
church. Come to the suppers and gath-
erings at the church, get acquainted
and be helpful to each other in the spir-
itual upbuilding and social life of the
church.
GRACE CHURCH VISITOR
WHY THE PARSON DIDN'T 'MAKE
THE PACE."
The Story of a Pertinent and Profitable
Parable.
(Concluded.)
Mr. Simeon Barton, prominent mer-
chant, prominent citizen, member of
the board of trustees o£ the Central
(otherwise known a sthe "White")
Church, looked after the receding form
of his visitor with an amused smile.
"Isn't that just like Joe?" he mur-
mured. "Everything is 'hosses' to him.
But what a ridiciulous notion to com-
pare a minister to a horse ! ' '
But as he still stood on the piazza,
watching the pudgy little figure make
its way down the village street, slowly
the smile died away, and a graver and
questioning look took its place. Was
the notion so ridiculous, after all?
Was the parable so far-fetched as at
first it had seemed? Might not Joe
Dooley also be among the prophets?
There came back to him a sentec or
two from the horseman 's little homily :
"There's a reason somewhere, an' it's
good hoss-sense to find out what it is.
When a hoss goes stale on me, I c'n-
sider that it's up to me to bore into th'
thing until I see daylight. Don't ketch
me putterin' round an' sayin' it's a
'puzzle,' an' 'I don't understan' it.' '
Possibly there was a hint just there
that was worth following up. It might
be that a little "boring" into this dis-
turbing matter o fthe minister's Iocs of
grip and power would let in a bit of
/'daylight."
The meeting of the members of the
Central Church duly called to "con-
sider and take action upon the resigna-
tion of the pastor" was largely at-
tended. Such a gathering at a mid-
week prayer meeting would have made
the pastor's heart sing for joy, even
while it would doubtless have stirred
his mind to great wonderment as to its
cause.
Nor was it a perfunctory or hypocrit-
ical gathering. The people of the Cen-
tral Church loved their minister, and
were sincerely grieved at thought of
losing him. No one had hinted to him
that his usefulness was waning and
that it would be better for him to leave ;
probably no one would ever have made
that suggestion. It was Mr. Crane him-
self who had sensed the situation and
had taken the initiative ; the people
were only accepting what seemed in-
evitable and acquiescing in an apparent
necessity.
There could be no denying the fact
that the church was running down.
Congregations were falling off; prayer
meetings were approaching the vanish-
ing-point in attendance; the Sunday
school was diminishing in numbers and
interest ; and all this was showing itself
on the treasurer's books. Yes, the tide
was certainly ebbing at the Central
Church and there seemed but one thing
to do. Much as they loved the old,
they must have a new minister.
It was understood as a matter of
course that the resignation was to be
accepted, and Lawyer Kennedy had in
his pocket the usual series of resolu-
tions with which such matters are
smoothed over. But, when the motion
to accept had been made and seconded
and was before the house for discus-
sion, Mr. Barton arose.
"Mr. Chairman," he began, "had this
meeting been held a week ago, I should
probably have voted in the affirmative
on this question, in the sincere convic-
tion that it was the only way "out of a
real and distressing situation. But
now I am not so sure about that. I
want to tell you a story. ' '
"The chair would remind Brother
Barton," interrupted the chairman,
"that serious business is before us, and
that we have neither time nor inclina-
tion for stories unless they bear di-
rectly upon a matter in hand."
Mr. Barton smiled. ' ' I think you will
grant that the relation is very immedi-
ate and direct when you have heard my
story," he rejoined.
Then very simply he told of Joe
Dooley 's visit and advice, keeping as
close as possible to the old horesman's
GRACE CHURCH VISITOR
phraseology. As he proceeded, and the
application of the parable began to be
apparent, a strained and tense hush
fell on the assembly. It seemed almost
as though some stopped breathing.
More than one head was dropped;
more than one cheek flushed with the
consciousness of guilt under the implied
indictment.
"Now," continued the speaker, "I've
been trying to follow old Joe's advice.
I have been looking the horse over, and
I can find no fault in him. Are any of
us dissatisfied with Mr. Crane person-
ally? Do we not respect and love him
as a fine preacher, an excellent pastor,
a true Christian gentleman, and a firm
friend? Isn't he just the kind of man
that we'd like to have for our next pas-
tor? Yes, I see you all agree with me.
And yet, in spite of all this, as Joe
says, he isn't 'making the pace. If the
trouble isn't Avith the horse, it must be
with the sulky. I've been looking that
over, too. Is Central Church letting or
helping its pastor 'make the pace,' or is
it acting as a drag upon him ?
"Last Friday night I dropped into
the prayer meeting/' Mr. Barton
laughed a little constrainedly, and his
face flushed. "Yes, I know some of
you are thinking that that was a
strange place for me to be, and it was.
I don't know when I've been to prayer
meeting before. And yet I used to at-
tend regularly, as did a good many of
the rest of you whom I didn't see the
other night. Let me make a confession
just here. Not often in my life has
anything cut me so deeply as the pas-
tor's look of surprise when I entered
the door. Glad, of course he was glad
to see me, but surprised; that's the
point. Think of it, a pastor surprised
to see a member of his church at a reg-
ular prayer meeting of the church !
Let that sink into your minds a little.
How many were there? Twenty-
seven; about the usual number, I was
told. And Central Church has a mem-
bership of about four hundred.
"On Sunday I stepped into the Sun-
day school. I was a stranger there.
My old class was gone. So was yours,
Deacon Deane, and yours, Mrs. Thax-
ter, and yours, Jim Bradley, and — well,
what's the use? Look in for your-
selves, and see the situation. And
there was Pastor Crane after a strenu-
ous morning in the pulpit obliged to
take a class of men, and thus to forego
the privilege and the possibilities of a
school-wide supervision, just because
there isn't a man of us who is willing
to put himself into the work !
"I didn't go to Sunday-evening ser-
vice, but I peeped in at the door to see
who were there. Just a handful of
Central Church people — and not many
others, for that matter. Why should
the outside world be expected to come
if we stay away? Then I left the
church and began a round of calls.
Yes," as a broadening smile went over
the meeting, "you understand now why
I dropped in to see some of you for a
minute Sunday night. I wanted to see
where you were and what you were do-
ing. I was looking over the sulky, to
find out what was the matter with it.
Most of you were at home, enjoying
the calm and quiet with your families.
All r,ight and proper enough; only
down there on the corner the Central
Church was trying to do business with
the greater part of its members absent
from their posts; down there the pas-
tor was trying to 'make the pace' with
the sulky dragging back all the time.
"Pardon this long speech; I'm about
through. I havenu't a word of blame
for the church ; I 'm taking this whole
thing to myself. And this as the way I
size it up : So far as I am concerned
there is little reason why the pastor or
the church should succeed in their
work. I am putting so little into that
work that my influence is largely, if
not entirely, negative. It isn't that I
have anything against either church or
pastor, and I don't think it is because
I have colt my love for the Lord and
my interest in His cause. It is simply
because I haven't really stooped to
think of my relation and duty. I have
(Continued on Page 5.)
GRACE CHURCH VISITOR
©race Cburcb Visitor
REV. A. K. ZARTMAN, D. D., Editor and Pub.
Subscription Price, 25 cents per year
Mrs. Roy Bitner is a patient at the
Lutheran hospital. She is getting along
very nicely.
Harry Chausse had an operation for
goiter at the Lutheran hospital recently.
It was a very critical operation but he
got along splendidly.
Mrs. Harry Baum is very much worse
and is suffering intensely. She has been
an example of patience and trust. For
seven years she has been confined to
her bed.
Mrs. Waldo has improved very much.
They are now living on Marion street,
corner of Third street.
Mr. and Mrs. William Siebold and son
Ralph returned from their trip to the
Pacific coast. They are very much in
love with California. We are glad to
have them home again and see them at
the services.
;"' Misses Ruth and Ada, and Howard
Gumpper are at home after spending
t wo months traveling through the West.
They certainly had a fine time and we
are. sure they made good use of their
opportunities. We are glad to see them
back again.
Mr. Rucks spent a recent. Sabbath at
Mulberry, Ind., with the guests they
entertained during the meeting of
Classis last Spring. They had a pleas-
ant time and greatly enjoyed attending
the services at the Reformed church in
Mulberry.
Mr. Harry Metzners are now pleas-
antly located in their new home on
Wildwood avenue.
Robert Bitner is spending a month or
more in San Francisco, Los Angeles and
other western cities. He is at present
in Los Angeles with his brother Clark.
Mr. and Mrs. William Fosler have
sold their property on St. Mary's ave-
nue and are now living at 1414 Oakland
street.
Mr. and Mrs. L. W. Hills are at home
from their summer home at St. Ignace.
The young people were entertained
at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel
Wertman Thursday evening, Oct. 14th,
at their monthly business meeting.
ANNOUNCEMENT.
Young People's Revival Week, Oct.
19th to 22nd.
Tuesday evening, Oct. 19, 7:30 to 8 o'-
clock — Song service. Prayer, W. F.
Close. Standing of Our C. E. Society,
Helen Trish. Sermon, The Need for
a Revival, by the pastor.
Wednesday evening, Oct. 20th — Prayer
meeting by the C. E. Society. George
Shiffer, leader.
Thursday evening, Oct. 21st, 7 :30 to 8
o'clock — Song service. Prayer by
the pastor. Sermon, Blessings and
Safeguards.
Friday evening, Oct. 22nd, 7 :30 — Song
service. Prayer, Evan Williams, pres-
ident of society. Our Pledge, Mrs.
Zartman, Miss Hazel Gooley. A Call
to Service, E. W. Baumgartner.
Committee — Mr. and Mrs. E. W. Baum-
gartner, Evelyn Wertman, Helen
Trish, Clarence Aken.
Pianist — Miss Vera Sessler.
Circle No. 4 of the Woman's Aid
society will serve supper at the church
Thursday evening, Oetr-B8th.
Managers — Mesdames Emma Bitner,
J. H. Straub, Jacob Rudisill, William
Siebold.
Assistants — Mesdames Susan Smith,
James Smith, Ed. Siebold, Jessie Ben-
ton, Lena Fritz, Oscar Riley, Samuel
Frederick, Martha Frederick, David
Walters, Daniel Mullen, Henry Krohn-
miller, Jennie Flooring, William Fosler,
John Schlaudroff, George Shiffer, Sam-
uel Keck, J. W. Shiffer, John McMahon,
Ernest Payne, Valentine Monn, Luke
Durnell, Louis Martin, Rufus Drucken-
brod, F. D. Knott, Roy Bitner, Jennie
Smith, Irma Merrilett, Elnora Logan,
Ray Deahl, Ruth Potts, Fred Roth,
Grace Shoda, Burt Hatch, Myrtle Men-
ser, David Copenhaver; Misses Lulu
Bitner, Lizzie Rudisill, Libbie Felker,
Mabel Reibel, Esther Fritz, Edith Shif-
fer.
GRACE CHURCH VISITOR
WHY THE PARSON DIDN'T "MAKE
THE PACE."
(Continued from Page 3.)
taken it for granted that everything
would go on all right no matter what I
did or did not do. It was pure thought-
lessness, but perhaps thoughtlessness is
a crime against God and His church.
"And 1 wonder whether this isn't
about the state of affairs with most of
us. Without intending it we have been
getting out from under the load and
letting it come on the pastor, and then
have wondered why he can't 'make the
pace.' Would it be any different if we
had a new pastor? Surely not, unless
we changed our course, But why not
change that course with the man we
know and love, instead of with and for
a stranger? How would it do for Cen-
tral Church to keep the horse, and
righten up the sulky a little just now ? ' '
When Mr. Barton sat down, silence
reigned. There ware deep searchings
of heart in that assembly, and no one
care to speak. The parable had done
what, preaching could never have done.
Good men and women were brought
face to face with their own responsibil-
ity for conditions that they sincerely
mourned. Good Deacon Carter, the
chairman, rightly interpreted the signs
of the hour, and forbore to ask for re-
marks or to call for action. The Spirit
was present; let Him control. And He
did.
Finally young Jim Bradley — al-
though a man of forty of more, he was
always called "young Jim" to distin-
guish him froh his father, who was
also "Jim" — arose. He was one of the
ablest men in the church and commu-
nity, a college gradute and a lawyer
of more than local fame. But for once
his usual ready command of language
failed him, and he halted and stam-
mered like a schoolboy.
"Mr. Chairman," he began, "some-
body ought to say something, but — I —
I hardly know what to say or how to
say it. We have had a wonderful rev-
elation this evening. It has not been
pleasant. It will not give us sweet
dreams to-night. But it is true! Joe
Dooley is, I verily believe, a prophet of
the Most High to Central Church of
Ryeboro. The trouble is not with our
pastor, but with us. Let's confess it,
and face our duty like the Christian
men and women that we believe we are
in spite of our carelessness and indif-
ference. There is a motion before the
house to accept the resignation of Mr.
Crane. So confident am I that we are
all now of the same way of thinking
that I venture to call for the question."
"All those in favor of acepting the
resignation of our pastor say, 'Ay,' '
called the chairman.
Silence unbroken!
"Those opposed say, 'No.' '
A mighty shout arose ! There could
be no questioning of the verdict.
"Now, Mr. Chairman," said Mr.
Bradley, "I move that the following
motion be adopted and entered upon
the records of this church : ' Resolved,
That the Central Church of Ryeboro
declines to swap horses, and pledges it-
self herewith to the task of keeping the
sulky in repair so that the proper pace
may be made.' "
"You don't mean just that "
"V/hy, that would sound like a
jockey's "
"Of course that won't do -"
Wholly regardless of parliamentary
considerations a hubbub of protest and
expostulation arose. The speaker re-
mained standing; and, when the up-
road had lessened he continued: "I
should like to have that motion adopted
and recorded in just that phraseology.
It is unusual, unecclesiastical, undigni-
fied, what you please. But, brethren
and sisters, we are standing in a sol-
emn place to-night. We have narrowly
escaped doing our church and pastor a
serious injury. The means of our de-
liverance was a striking parable. There
isn't one of us who could ever see or
hear that record upon our books with-
out recalling this house. And to those
who are not present that singular en-
try, as it is explained, may become the
means of enlightenment and stimula-
tion. I press my motion for the resolu-
tion."
GRACE CHURCH VISITOR
And in the end the motion prevailed,
and that unique entry may to-day be
read in the full round handwriting of
the clerk on the records of the eCntral
Church of Ryeboro.
"What's all this I hear 'bout the
White Church an' Elder Crane?"
asked Joe Dooley at his next visit to
Mr. Barton a few months later. "Last
time I was here you was goin' to fire
him, or let him fire himself, for not
makin' the pace. Seems you didn't, an'
that he 's running ' in great form now.
Hain't heard much ence I struck town
but th' great doin's up to th' church.
An', 0, yes, what 'd young Jim Brad-
ley mean by sayin' that you'd made up
your minds to 'tend to th' sulky a leetle
more, an' that I was responsible for th'
hull bizness?"
And, as Mr. Barton told him the
story, the old man listened with intent
interest. When the recital was finished,
he sat for a few moments in silence.
Then his only comment was :
"Wall, I swanny to gum! They's
lots of hoss-sense in folks if you c'n
only get at it. ' '
C. E. TOPICS AND LEADERS
Nov. 7. — Tasks That Are Waiting for
the Church of Christ— Luke 4:14-21.
Leader — Walter Close.
Nov. 14. — How the Denominations May
Be United in Service, — Isa. 52 :7,8.
Leader — Mrs. A. K. Zartman.
Nov. 21.— The Way in Which God
Wants to be Thanked,— Ps. 67:1-7.
Leader — Ray Deahl.
PIANO
Salesroom 920 Calhoun Street
Fort Wayne, Inch
H. ZUR MUEHLEN
* florist =
Successor to AUGER FLOWER STORE
1 14 Washington Blvd. East Fort Wayne, Indiana
Phone 734
We may not be your nearest Druggist
but we try to come the nearest to
pleasing you
D and N PHARMACY
At the Transfer Corner
Bitner's Kitchen Ware Store
AGENTS FOR
LEONARD REFRIGERATORS
DIRECT ACTION GAS RANGES
118% E.Columbia Street
PHONE 1594
Floral Designs and Sprays Plants, Palms, Ferns
Cut Flowers Hardy Shrubs
Floral Decorations for All Occasions
THE DOSWELL FLORAL COMPANY
"QUALITY FLOWERS"
Fort Wayne, Ind.
Store
238 West Main Street
Phone 1183
Greenhouses, West Main Street
Near Lindenwood Cemetery
Phone 727
R. L. Romy
J. W. Brewer
Romy and Brewer
Real Estate and Insurance
Room 22 Bank Block. Fort Wayne, Indiana
REFERENCE:
A. C. Schmuck & Son
Dealers in
Qroceries, 'Provisions and Country Produce
We make a specialty of
HOME CANNED GOODS
1024 Barr St. Phone 17
GRACE CHURCH VISITOR
E. A. SCHOTT
Barr and Washington Streets
Make a Specialty of
Rare and Difficult
PRESCRIPTIONS
Telephone Day and Night No. 100
Home Phones 395 and 2456
Coverdale & Archer Co.
Grocery & Meat Market
Dealers in
Groceries, Fresh and Smoked Meats
Fruits, Poultry, etc.
PRICES RIGHT. PROMPT DELIVERY
630-630 Harrison & 208 W. Main Sts.
WOLF&DESSAUER'S
BIG DEPARTMENT STORE
..SHOW COMPLETE LINES..
Of Dry Goods, Ladies' Suits and Coats,
Carpets, Rugs, Linoleums, Curtains,
and Draperies, China, House Furnish-
ings and Silverware. All reasonably
°riced
119-121-123-125-127 WEST BERRY STREET
We Improve With Age
For over fifty
years this has been
FORT WAYNE'S BEST STORE
We can serve you better
now than ever before
TheRurode Dry Goods Co.
JACOBS MUSIC HOUSE
PIANOS AND PLAYER PIANOS
102L1023 CALHOUN ST.
FORT WAYNE, INDIANA
WM. FAPE, Sr.
WM. PAPE, Jr.
WM. PAPE & SON
Dealers in
Wall Paper, Room Moulding, Paints,
Oils, Brushes, Window Shades, Etc.
224 East Wayne St. Telephone 455
W.D.HENDERSON & CO.
DEALERS IN
Hay, Straw, Grain, Feed, and Seeds,
Pure Oil Meal, Poultry
Supplies, Etc.
231-233 E. COLUMBIA ST.
Phone 144
THE ORIENTAL STORE
CUSMA T. DAVID. Prop.
A Specialty of
Orients) Rugs
and Carpets
v Cluny, Florentine,
Fillet and
Crochet Lace«,
Constantinople
Embroidery,
Japanese Silk
Kimonas,
Siik Scarfs
Drapeiies and
Egyptian Scarfs
Jewelry, Chamois,
Mosaic and
Enameled
Hammered Brass.
Jardinie-rs, Trays,
Candlesticks,
Vessels and
Lamp
122 East Wayne Street
Home Phone 1674
W. C. WOLF, Mgr.
Phone 3178
Wolf's Furnace Co.
Headquarters for High Grade
Furnaces, Tin Copper and Sheet Metal Work
130 East Columbia Street
GRACE CHURCH VISITOR
PERRY, Leading Photographer
CORNER CALHOUN AND BERRY STS.
CHALFANT & EGLEY
PROTESTANT UNDERTAKERS
Office Phoae 362 130 Washington Bivd. West
THE FINAL TRIBUTE
!s made impressive by the quality of service rather than
by display. We care for each case with that quiet digfeity
so desirable and lacking in most present day funerals.
FURNAS ICE CREAM CO.
Manufacturers of
Plain and Fancy Ice Cream
611-615 Lafayette St.
Phone 2906
The Best of Everything Optical
Eyes Examined Without Charge
H. H. Rogers
Eye Specialist arid Manufacturing
Optician
Anthony Hotel Building
A MODERN AND SANITARY PLANT
EAGLE LAUNDRY CO.
Phone 6507 1837-41 S, Calhoun St.
SEND US YOUR
LAUNDRY AND DRY CLEANING
J. C. PELTIER & SON
Undertaking and Embalming
No. 117 W. WAYNE STREET
Open Day and Night. Telephone 25
Phone 160 and 555
Troy Laundry Co.
308 and 314 Pearl St.
Phone 6003
Troy
Dry Cleaning Co.
1812 Calhoun St.
Established 1876 French Process Superior Service
Double service from same delivery wagons.
Call either & your wants will be promptly taken c »re of.
Neireiter-Giimpper-Wilson Agency
INSURANCE
Room. 7 Schmitz Block. Phone 893
Far a Good Looking" Hat and the Best
Value g-o to the
Gaskill Millinery Shop
PHONE 2778
908 Oaihoun St. Fort W>yn.e, Ind.
L. HILBISH
PLUMBING
AND HEATIN G
Repair Work Pro nptly Attended To
WORK GUARANTEED
Phone 6331 2112 Calhoun St.
IT FAYS YOU TO MEAD IT
WHAT?
THE BULLETIN
will keep you posted in prices
Grocery Phone 442 Carpet Depfc. 1876
WHITE FRUIT HOUSE
The Shields Clo iin ^"^■•^^SE2£^*« ,
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